Rules for King's Gold

King's Gold is a push-your-luck game where players are thieves exploring the king's castle in search of gold and treasure. The question is how deep into the castle you dare to go before the guards catch you. The further you venture, the more gold you can find, but the risk grows with every step.

The game is based on the classic board game Diamant/Incan Gold by Alan R. Moon and Bruno Faidutti, adapted here for play with a regular deck of cards. It works for 3-8 players and usually takes 20-30 minutes.

To play King's Gold you need:

• A standard deck of 52 cards (no jokers in the first round)
• Jokers (optional, used as treasures)
• Gold tokens - buttons, chips, matchsticks, or any small objects to represent gold

Card values: Ace = 1 gold, cards 2-10 = face value in gold, face cards (Jack, Queen, King) = guards, jokers = treasures.

The game is played over four rounds, each representing a new attempt to rob the castle. At the start of each round:

• Shuffle all cards thoroughly
• Hold the deck face down in a pile
• No jokers are used in the first round
• From the second round, shuffle in one joker, then another in the third round
• Place the gold tokens in a pile where everyone can reach them

Decide who goes first however the group likes, such as drawing lots or a quick vote.

A round starts with the first player turning over the top card and placing it face up on the table. This reveals what is in the first room of the castle:

• Number cards (A-10): The room contains gold equal to the number on the card. Divide the gold tokens equally among all players still in the castle. Any leftover tokens that cannot be split evenly are placed on the card.
• Face cards: There is a guard in the room. This raises the danger but has no immediate effect.

After each card is revealed, all players must decide at the same time whether to press on or leave the castle. Count to three, then everyone shows thumbs up (continue) or thumbs down (leave) simultaneously.

Players who choose to leave the castle:

• Keep all gold they have collected this round
• Split any gold tokens sitting on cards along the path equally among themselves
• Set the gold aside in a safe pile where it cannot be lost
• Cannot collect any more gold this round

If exactly one player leaves while a joker (treasure) is sitting on the path, that player takes the joker and its bonus points.

The risk of going deeper is that you may be caught by the guards and lose all the gold you collected this round:

• First face card: No immediate danger, but the risk increases
• Second matching face card: All players still in the castle are caught and must flee empty-handed, losing everything they found this round

For example, if a Jack appears early on and another Jack is drawn later, everyone still inside loses their gold. The same rule applies to two Queens or two Kings.

Jokers can be added to the deck as treasures worth extra points:

• Round 1: No jokers
• Round 2: Shuffle in one joker, worth 5 gold tokens
• Round 3: Shuffle in a second joker, worth 10 gold tokens
• Round 4: Both jokers may be in the deck, worth 15 gold tokens each

A joker can only be claimed if exactly one player leaves the castle on the same turn the joker is on the path. If two or more players leave at the same time, the joker stays where it is.

A round ends in one of two ways:

• All players have left the castle: The round is over and the next one begins
• A second matching face card is drawn: All remaining players lose their gold and must flee

The second matching face card is removed from the game. Any jokers left on the path are lost. Shuffle all remaining cards before the next round begins.

After four rounds, count up the gold:

• Count all gold tokens each player has collected
• Add bonus points for any jokers collected (5, 10, or 15 points)
• The player with the most gold wins.

If there is a tie, the player with more jokers wins. If still tied, play an extra round or share the victory.

A few things worth keeping in mind:

• Watch the guards: Keep track of which face cards have already been drawn
• Know when to quit: Sometimes leaving early is the smart move to lock in what you have
• Watch other players: If most people are leaving, staying behind could pay off
• First round: Play it safe since there is less gold on offer
• Last round: Worth taking more chances since it is your final opportunity
• Joker hunting: Try to be the only one leaving when a joker is on the path